Faith in the Resurrection

Hebrews 11:35-38 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated – 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
 
AFTER the first sentence, this is a hard read, isn’t it? Who are the people of this passage? 
   Hebrews is still pointing to the Old Testament history. In Elijah’s’ ministry, the widow from Zarephath received her son back from the dead (1 Kings 17:17-24). And in Elisha’s ministry, the Shunammite woman’s son was restored to life (2 Kings 4:8-37). The women were not Jews. Still God revealed his mercy for all to know.
   Then comes the list of 13 persecutions. There were many unnamed prophets who suffered persecution and death at the hands of evil rulers. One account is of the hateful Jezebel: 1 Kings 18:4 While Jezebel was killing off the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water. Men of God hid in caves, destitute and reliant on Obadiah’s provision. Also, Jeremiah was put in prison, deep in a well of mud left to die. Others were abused for their faithful testimony of God’s Word.
   And Jesus mourned Jerusalem’s history when he exclaimed: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.” (Matthew 23:37) Other histories of the Jews describe some of the horrible violence Hebrews lists.
   Then the Hebrews writer points to the church’s unity with these faithful servants of God: Hebrews 11:39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. In faith, the persecuted understood the eternal glory that awaited them.
   As we close Hebrews 11 – the “Faith Hall of Fame”, we should have a greater understanding of God’s faith gift to mankind since the Garden of Eden. Each of us who have believed in God and believed his Word throughout the generations is confidently looking forward to something we have not seen. We have glimpses of the New Heaven and earth because of the transforming work God has done.
   We Christians can witness the hope of things not yet seen because Jesus is risen. One day the faith God has given us will unite with the faithful from ages past and ages future. Living in faith, we are sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
   Rejoice. Be at peace. Be glad.